LynnS

I'm coming across a lot of this stuff as I'm delving into Tolkien lore. The use of light and fire against the shadows; Dany as an analog to Galadriel; in that Galadriel is tempted to use the power of the ring for good; but would eventually be corrupted by it. Everyone would love Galadriel/Dany and despair. The business of Arya as a dark angel who would help those who are tired of the injuries and pain of life by guiding them to the shadowland. An inversion of the elves (lesser angels/beings of light) doing the same for Frodo. The Black Gate/Night Gate used used as an entrance from the primary world to the secondary world and the entryway to a prison.

Does this remind you of anything?

I'm going to have re-read Dany chapters and shake off the cob webs. I think she will be Dany the Conqueror, at least of Essos and she inhabits a cruel and brutal world that shapes her to some extent. I'm not sure she knows what she wants at this point but she is being driven by those around her to follow their path instead of her own path. Aegon is in the same boat, perhaps more so than Dany. I think her heart is good and she would prefer the velvet glove to the iron fist; but she has to subdue a continent first and she will meet brutality with brutality, since this is the only language her foes understand. She will have to deal with all the unexpected consequences of the power she wields. It won't all go her own way. What choices she makes will fall into the category of the things we do for love.

Yes, if such a journal exists and why not. It could include correspondence between Rhaegar and Aemon; Bloodraven's thoughts and dreams, Aemon's dreams etc. If there is some connective tissue between show and book canon; then Dany's vision of Rhaegar, Elia and newborn Aegon, in the House of Undying, could influence her choices. Especially if Aemon and Bloodraven knew about Aegon the Conqeroos prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire.

I don't know if he's going to do that. He's the one who said prophecy would bite your dick off every time. Didn't Gilly name Mance's son Aemon? I don't think Dany will go in for child sacrifice, period. She's more likely to be surprised that a wildling woman would name the boy after Aemon and that Jon would send Aemon and the child out of Mel's reach. Aemon might become her teacher after the fact anyway.

What Gilly, the wallflower, knows or doesn't know is a good question. Just because she is silent doesn't mean she doesn't know anything; listening and observing what is said around her on or off the page. Dany would certainly find out more about Aemon, and how he removed himself from the line of succession in favour of Aegon. Of course, I wonder what books he was sending to the Citadel and if they included his own journals. He was a maester and an academic after all. The idea intrigues me.

Well, no. I expect these fires she has to light to have some kind of magical component. We've been primed by the show to expect Dany to burn the Khals and walk out of the fire unburnt again. I'm just not sure it will happen that way. IIRC George said that Drogos funeral pyre was a one-time miraculous event. So I don't think she was given permanent immunity to fire. And does she need that when Drogon is likely to attack anyone who threatens her? So I don't know what the fires will be. However, there must be a reason why George has preserved Aemons body, in alcohol, no less. Someone has to give him a fiery funeral and I think that's likely to be Dany, if Marwyn does take Aemons remains with him. I imagine something less mundane and rather spectacular. A funeral pyre a big as Julius Caesars and pyrotechnics befitting an alcohol soaked body. He is also kings blood and this would make Melisandres leach burning look like childs play. I wonder what Dany will see in the flames this time. Pure speculation, but that's what I imagine.

I don't think being selected for the KG is criteria for being the Sword of the Morning. Likely the other way around.

Both Jamie and Ned think that Arthur was the finest knight in the realm. Not just for his skill as a warrior, but for the quality of his character.

I'm not sure what to make of Marwyn at this point, but I think he falls into the category of dangerous friend. I don't think he would use Mance's baby for blood magic, although I think he knows more about it than we've been shown ,and if Qyburn's assessment of him is correct; then he's not unwilling to use it. I think Gilly's value is as an eyewitness to events beyond the Wall and will support what he tells Dany. Gilly will also create an impression of Jon; having saved the baby and Aemon from Melisandre's machinations. The sacrificing of children and an elderly relative is not something she will look on with any favor. A gift of books, essentially from Aemon via Marwyn could be significant. We don't know what was kept at Castle Blacks library. And Dany will have to light another fire. Perhaps this will have something to do with Aemons remains.

I wonder if he feels worthy enough to accept the sword on his own accord. If Ser Arthur is the standard; the bar is pretty high. So far, he has been Berics squire for a short time and he has since left the BwB.. Not sure where he is getting his training now.

I'm under the impression that Marwyn was leaving immediately to take ship for Mereen. I think he would collect the books Aemon sent to the Citadel, along with Aemon's remains first. Why not just take the ship and everything on it with him? Anyway, I think the implications would be interesting.

I do like the idea, that traditionally, it's the senior ranked women of House Dayne, who choose the Sword of the Morning from the men in the family. Not sure who is around to make that decision or who is likely to receive it now. I can imagine Sam and Sarella fleeing from the Citadel,to Starfall, ahead of Eurons invasion; and collecting Ned Dayne and the sword, so it doesn't fall into Eurons hands. What has happened to Gilly btw? Didn't Sam tell her to stay on the ship until he returned from the Citadel. I wonder if she left or ended up as cargo on her way to Dany with Marwyn.

Yes he said that and didn't he also say that someone who is not a Dayne could claim the sword? I wonder how the Dayne's choose who is worthy. Maybe the sword chooses who is worthy? I'm thinking of the potential magical aspects. So perhaps a Dayne like Ser Arthur has the necessary virtues for House Dayne to bestow it; but I wonder about accessing its real power - its potential as a sword of light.

Is this a true reading of the Quest for Erebor from the Unfinished Tales?

Sorry! My mistake. Blue crystal it is. Blue crystals are sapphires in my brain.

This is a very complex theory for my brain and I tend to want to simplify things so I can comprehend them. In terms of the colors red, blue and green; my mind goes to fire imagery. We have red and blue flames but also green: I'm not sure how the green fire translates into another sword or how to connect it to the discussion here. Since we are looking at GRRM visiting old friends (his own stories); I'm considering that he is also visiting Tolkien since he brought it up by saying 'that's not how he would do things." So how would he do things? The rings of power are ruby, sapphire and diamond (adamant); but some of the elemental magic is mixed. Not unlike obsidian, a form of crystal called frozen fire. So a balance of fire, ice and earth. Robert (In Deep Geek) thinks that magic is a power that can use different elements; that there is not really a thing as elemental magic as such. If I understand him correctly (and I' not sure I do). It seems to me that crystals or minerals like rubies, sapphires, diamonds focus or concentrate certain elements for use by sorcerers. Mel's ruby for example. Bran likens the Wall to a sapphire and this may be something that Mel recognizes about it and why she says Jon can access this magic if he chooses. What is the green fire? Is it water magic in the unfrozen state?

This is an interesting examination of Thoros:

That is the problem. It definately stops people from further examination. In this case; it explains to me how and why Ghost is mute and his eyes are opened before the other pups. What further ramifications it has for Ghost, Jon and Bran, I don't know.

I'm as confused about this sword business as you and no doubt Kissed by Fire and Sweetsunray have a better grasp of the magic than I. I'm expecting not only fire and ice magic but light magic as well. So swords of fire, ice and light. I'm coming to this conclusion from my research into Tolkiens use of fire and light as weapons and defense (a sword and a shield). Specifically by Gandalf but also Galadriel's gift to Frodo of the light of Earendel (to be used in dark places when all other light fails). From Tolkien's letters; I've learned that Earendel is an archaic Anglo-Saxon term for the dawn and evening star (Venus). And so we have the Dawn sword alive with light. This seems more significant to me since the sword is forged from the heart of a fallen star. More so than how it was forged and what it's made of; what does it actually do? There seems to be some connective tissue between the Dawn sword and the Faith of the Seven with their legend of the seven stars coming down from the sky and walking the earth as men (women?). Hugor places the light of their stars as jewels in his crown. The crystal crown of the high septon in other words. Something that separates pure white light into a rainbow of colors. I think the Faith Militant are the bleeding stars foretold in the prophesy from Asshai since they carve stars into their flesh and the Dawn sword may have been wielded by one of the original seven. I don't think it's a coincidence that their swords have a crystal in the pommel and the constellation Sword of the Morning has a white star in it's pommel. I'm expecting the Dawn sword to have a diamond (adamant, Galadriels ring) in its hilt.

I've wondered about this as well. I think this may be another instance of time and causality. We know GRRM was playing with it from his comments about Hodor in the book "Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. I've wondered if this is the only instance where GRRM used entering another mind and affecting their past in some way. With Hodor it's pronounced so I think it's curious that Hodor is somewhat mute and so is Ghost. I think the cause occurs later in the story at the Skirling Pass when Tree-Bran enters Jon's wolf dream. Not quite the same thing as skinchanging Hodor, but close. I've wondered about Hodor being the only instance of time and causality. What would be the point? GRRM could have explained the onset of Hodor's condition any number of ways that didn't involve skinchanging.

Broken swords could also be considered swords without hilts. If Jon is his sword Longclaw with its direwolf hilt; then the sword is now broken with body and soul separated. I'm not sure his body can be resurrected without binding the soul which is safely housed within Ghost for the present. I don't think Mel or the Others can raise him at this point. It's not clear to me what happened to Varamyr's body when he died the true death. Thistle wasn't the only wight that was raised.

My sympathies to you as well. What breed are your two? I'm under the impression they are big dogs.

Sorry. I was a bit confused. The little dog, otherwise known as Kibbles, Schmibbly, Missy and Fuzzy Pants, passed away on Monday from heart failure. I've been walking around here since then, not knowing quite what to do with myself. I miss her sweetness, teddy bear looks, our nightly howl-in, her acrobatics and the uncanny way she could wake me up by staring at my face. She left without fear or pain, lots of kisses and the I've got your tail game. She spun her tail like a helicopter with a little morphine to ease her passing. I'd post her picture so you could see her extreme cuteness for yourself, but I don't know how to do that.